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Journalism of Courage
A visit to the Hindu holy city of Kashi ‘shocks’ the senses and the ‘awe’ that that one expects to feel at the holiest of Hindu pilgrim centres remains an illusion. On a recent visit to the city, I was appalled at the state of the roads, buildings and, most of all, the surroundings of the Kashi Viswanath temple and the temple itself.
The ‘shock’ starts at the railway station itself. The platforms are dirty, unswept and in a state of permanent disrepair. Cement is chipped and broken, there are pools of dirty water on all the platforms and beggars as well as cattle roam at will.
As one steps out of the railway station, more sorry sights greet the eyes. Wherever there are gutters (or rather apologies for gutters), they are overflowing with all types of filth — plastic, fruit, vegetable peels, broken mud cups. Most of the roads do not boast of drains or gutters. Filthy water flows at will. Cattle roam freely. We, who profess to worship ‘gau matha’, nonchalantly allow them to roam the streets, gulping down plastic. Some have festering wounds on their backs. The approach lanes to the ‘holiest of holy shrines’ of the Hindus, the Kashi Viswanath temple, are no better. They are pot-holed and, at places, stink. Pools of dirty water are seen everywhere.
The premises of the temple present a sorry picture. The marble and stone slabs are broken. Periodically the employees of the temple spray water on the floor but this only makes things worse. The silver plating of the pillars and towers have become black. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, the roof is jet black and the walls are dirty. Devotees continue to pour water and milk over the holy lingam throughout the day, with the result that the deity is perpetually surrounded by the liquid with flowers and leaves floating on it.
In spite of all the discomforts, the devout from all over the country continue to pour into this holy city for a glimpse of the Kashi Viswanath who they believe will lead them to moksha. After seeing the sorry state of affairs, I was left wondering whether Pravin Togadia should be distributing brooms and brushes to his followers, instead of tridents.
He and his followers would be doing much more service to Hinduism if they take it upon themselves to clean up and maintain the holy places of the Hindus, starting with Kashi. What is the point in clamouring for more temples if we are unable to maintain the sanctity of the ancient temples?
We take our children to these shrines, trying to impress upon them the greatness of our culture, religion and heritage. Is it any wonder that these places only fill them with revulsion and disgust? If the VHP, BJP or any other political party or organisation takes it upon themselves to clean up our places of worship and ensure that devotees are allowed to pray in peace, I am sure all Hindus will gratefully give them their votes.
With the number of supporters that Togadia and others like him claim to have, it should be no great task. But the question is are they really concerned about Hinduism or is the word a mere eye-wash for their private agendas?
